Multiple head marking device

Abstract

A multiple imprint transfer tape marking device, which will imprint a multiplicity of imprint surfaces, substantially simultaneously. The imprint marking device includes a plurality of laterally aligned, individually powered marker heads which are adjustably positioned for cyclically imprinting a packaging film movable along an imprint path, normal to the laterally aligned marking heads. The imprint marking device further provides a transfer tape assembly pivotally adjustable to a suitable angle relative to the aligned marker heads to provide a proportioned width of the tape for individual use by each of the marker heads. The tape assembly is provided with an automatic tape advance mechanism and is arranged to accept various width transfer tapes selected in accordance with the number of marker heads utilized and the size of the imprint indicia.

I claim as my invention: 
     
       1. A multiple imprinting apparatus for simultaneously marking a plurality of discrete marking areas on a surface to be marked, said marking areas being spaced apart transversely of a line of travel of the surface to be marked, comprising an imprint marking assembly having a frame member mounted in juxtaposition to the surface to be marked, a plurality of transversely spaced marker head members adjustably carried on said frame member for positioning said marker head members in registration with said discrete marking areas, said marking areas being variable in size and spacing when changing the surface to be marked, each marker head member includes an individually powered striker member, movable towards and away from the marking areas, a transfer tape assembly including a transfer tape, carried by said frame member, means to adjust said transfer tape assembly to angularly position a span of the transfer tape relative to the transversely spaced marker head members for movement therealong, said span having a longitudinal length and a width, the marker head members having raised imprinting indicia thereon in opposition to said tape whereby the angular adjustment of said transfer tape assembly is effective to position said transfer tape span relative to said raised indicia whereby each raised indicia contacts the tape span to imprint the discrete marking areas when striker members are activated, in a discrete longitudinal area of the tape, said longitudinal areas being offset from one another across the width of the tape and non-overlapping. 
     
     
       2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transfer tape assembly includes a tape advancing means and guide means for said tape span, being adjustable to deliver an unused portion of each longitudinal area into imprint registration with one of said raised indicia preceding each imprint. 
     
     
       3. In an imprint marker having a marking stations at which raised indicia are brought into contact with an imprint transfer tape for use in imprinting a series of spaced aligned side-by-side imprint areas spaced along a packaging film, the improvement comprising a series of spaced apart raised indicia positioned adjacent the packaging film, means to individually and substantially simultaneously impart an imprint motion to said series of raised indicia and means to adjust the series of indicia to positions in register with said series of imprint areas, a transfer tape span passing between said series of raised indicia and said packaging film, and means to angularly adjust the tape span relative to said series of raised indicia whereby each raised indicia is effective to imprint said series of aligned side-by-side imprint areas while utilizing a discrete longitudinal portion of the transfer tape being offset from one another across the tape width and being non-overlapping. 
     
     
       4. A multiple imprinting apparatus for imprinting a plurality of discrete marking areas on a surface to be marked, the surface being movable along a path of travel past the apparatus, the discrete marking areas being spaced apart and aligned normal to the path of travel, comprising: an elongated frame member positioned in juxtaposition to the surface to be marked, a plurality of transversely spaced marking head assemblies adjustably positioned along said elongated frame member in registration with said discrete marking areas, each marking head assembly carrying an imprint indicia thereon, an individual power means associated with each of said plurality of aligned marking head assemblies to provide an imprint motion therefor, a transfer tape assembly including a transfer tape, carried by said elongated frame, means to adjust said transfer tape assembly to angularly position a span of the transfer tape relative to the transversely spaced marking head assemblies to provide a proportioned width of transfer tape for individual use by each of the imprint indicia, and a tape advance means to automatically advance the transfer tape to provide a discrete portion of said span of tape for use by each imprint indicia with each impression made. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein imprint surface areas comprise a discrete marking area of limited size arranged in side-by-side relationship along a length of packaging film, and said plurality of marking head assemblies each include an individual striker member being movable toward and away from said packaging film by said individual power means and being adjustable along an upper guide rail of said elongated frame to position individual striker members in registration with each of said discrete marking areas, each said marking head assemblies further including a marker head with said imprint indicia carried thereon and being adjustable along a lower guide means for positioning in vertical spaced alignment with said striker members, said packaging film and said span of tape passing therebetween, wherein each imprint indicia contacts the tape in a discrete longitudinal area of the span of tape, said longitudinal areas being offset from one another across the width of said span and non-overlapping. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said transfer tape assembly further includes means to accommodate use of tapes differing in width to provide said discrete portions of said span when changing the number or size of said imprint indicia utilized. 
     
     
       7. The method of imprinting a plurality of discrete imprint areas along a length of packaging film, said packaging film being advanced longitudinally along a path of travel past an imprint transfer tape marking device and having a series of imprint areas arranged across the packaging film width in longitudinally aligned pairs for simultaneously imprinting said series of imprint areas comprising the steps of adjusting a plurality of transversely disposed marker heads of the marking device to positions whereby each of said marker heads is placed in alignment with one of said aligned pairs of imprint areas and normal to the path of travel, locating a pair of indicia on each marker head in longitudinal spaced relationship relative to one another along the path of travel, with the indicia on each successive marker head being spaced apart an increased increment in an amount at least equal to an overall dimension of a preceding pair of longitudinally spaced indicia, positioning a transfer tape for movement past said marker heads and parallel thereto in which each indicia contacts the transfer tape in a different area across the transfer tape width and non-overlapping, advancing the packaging film longitudinally to bring a series of imprint areas into imprint position relative to said marker heads, and advancing the transfer tape transversely to bring an unused portion of said transfer tape into imprint position relative to said indicias.